Assistant Professor, Advertising and Public Relations

Research Interests

My research investigates how the human brain processes socially communicated information and how this information motivates us and influences our decisions. I am particularly interested in the processing of rewarding social information, such as reputational gains and "likes" on social media. Social media platforms are a relatively new phenomenon, but they tap into social processes that have been hardwired into our brains over years of evolution. My research program focuses on the brain and behavior of both adults and adolescents to elucidate these processes. To answer my research questions, my group uses functional and structural neuroimaging, coupled with experimental methods from social psychology and behavioral economics. Ultimately, with the knowledge gained by my research, I hope to contribute to a better understanding of socially motivated human behavior.